Justice Minister Paul van Tigchelt (Flemish liberal) says Belgian security services are doing everything possible to protect the Jewish community from rising anti-Semitism. He will soon meet the country’s public prosecutors in a bid to ensure consistent action is taken.
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“We are trying to provide maximum security for the Jewish community”
Colin Clapson
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Van Tigchelt reiterated what his party colleague, prime minister Alexander De Croo, said on Sunday: "We are trying to provide maximum security for the Jewish community in Belgium".
“Freedom of expression is important” says Van Tigchelt. “Everyone is allowed to express their opinion. One may even choose sides in this conflict, but what one is not allowed to do is incite or call for violence."
Since the start of the conflict, the Belgian government body that analyses the treat, the OCAD, received 40 reports of threats in relation to the conflict, all of which deal with anti-Semitism. Earlier, Antwerp police, Unia and the Jewish community’s own security service, the Shmira, also revealed that anti-Semitism was on the rise.
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Threats may take many forms, explains van Tigchelt. "There’s violence against the Jewish community, the police have already had to intervene in incidents, but also grave desecration, as we saw last week in Marcinelle."
It is important for victims to report threats the minister stressed. "The anti-Semitic or racist motive also has to be proved, of course. Finding the burden of proof is not always easy. That’s why it is important that threats are immediately reported."